Every now and then, I can be found cruising the TED website for some random inspiration. Their tagline “Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world” is spot on and really does feature some pretty remarkable people and their equally remarkable points of view and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is certainly no exception.

I was somewhat familiar with her novel, Half of a Yellow Sun which caused a stir of excitement when it came out a few years ago. I recall seeing so many Nigerians proudly displaying their copies and talking about how great it was. Despite the fact that I consider myself an avid reader, (I consume at least 4 books a month and bits and pieces of many more) I refused to read Half of A Yellow Sun simply because “I don’t read fiction”. However, after gleaning some information from Chimamanda’s website in preparation for this post, I realized that in my ignorance I had fallen into the very trap Chimamanda warned of by assuming a single story of fiction!

So what is this book really about?  The quote below from her website says it way better than I ever can.

“Epic, ambitious, and triumphantly realized, Half of a Yellow Sun is a remarkable novel about moral responsibility, about the end of colonialism, about ethnic allegiances, about class and race—and the ways in which love can complicate them all.”

Needless to say, my copy should be here as soon as Amazon can get it to me and who knows, there might be a book review on here someday!

So I stumbled on this article a few days ago. Someone decided to have a “Miss Virginity” pageant in Lagos! To ensure that each of the contestants was really a virgin, Dr Ekemode, a Lagos based consultant gynaecologist examined every one of them. Only 43 of the 60 registrants were “certified” to be virgins.

Link to original article below:

http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/28624/154/

All photo credits to Vanguard Nigeria online edition.

I finally attended the 2008 Nigerian day parade in NYC and despite the rain, there was a pretty good turnout. I had a great time helping a friend publicize her new social networking website. It was nice to see all the Naija’s in full effect strutting their green and whites all day.

I took advantage of the celebrations to launch NaijaMade: NaijaMan’s T-Shirt line. Many thanks to everyone who bought a t-shirt that day and encouraged me to take this dream to the next level. Send me a message if you’d like to preorder.

Update: 04/28/09. The NaijaMade.com v1.0 launched today. Currently carrying just the Naija Day parade selection. We are working on the summer line and will update the online offering shortly!

So I’m at Friday’s last night after work and I’m browsing through the menu looking for some chops and I was like huh?? Is that a dodo sandwich? “No, it’s a chipotle grilled steak sandwich”. Whareva!

I’ve cooked plantains in lots of different ways and eaten it with lots of different things but I never ever imagined that fried plantains would feel at home between two slices of bread. 

Boiled plantain, fried plantain (dodo), plantain chips, dodo and beans, dodo and egg, dodo and yam and Islamia’s banging dodo gizzard but a dodo sandwich? That one pass me.

What’s for dinner tonight? I’m thinking Egusi Pizza with some goat meat toppings. Recipe to follow.

The Afrobeat remix of the American Gangster Album brought to you by DJ Mike Love.

Click HERE to download.

Tracklisting:

1. Intro – “Army Arrangement” from, the Best Of Fela Kuti (2000), “VIP” from, VIP (1979)
2. Pray – “Sorrow Tears And Blood” from, the Best Of Fela Kuti (2000)
3. American Dreaming – “Upside Down” from Album, Upside Down (1976)
4. Hello Brooklyn – “Mistake” from Live! (With Ginger Baker), (1971)
5. No Hook – “Ariya” from album, Roforofo Fight/The Fela Singles (1972) (2006)
6. Roc Boys – “Water No Get Enemy” from, Expensive Shit, (1975), “Mop / movement of the people” from  Live in Amsterdam (1984), “Stop The Violence” from, By Any Means Necessary-BDP (1988).
7. Sweet – “My Lady Frustration”  The’69, Los Angeles Sessions (1993)
8. I Know – “Confusion” from, Confusion (1975)
9. Party Life – “Viva Nigeria” from, The Los Angeles Sessions ‘69, (1993)
10. Ignorant Shit – “Fear Not For Man” from, Stalemate (1977)
11. Say Hello – “Coffin For Head Of State” from, the Best Of Fela Kuti (2000), “Mr. Grammarticalologylisatitiona Is The Boss”  Monkey Banana, (1976)
12. Success – “Swegbe And Pako” from, Open & Close (1971)
13. Falling – “Mattress” from, Noise For Vendor Mouth (1975)
14. Blue Magic – “Water No Get Enemy” from, Expensive Shit, (1975)
15. American Gangster – “Kalakuta Show” from, Kalakuta Show (1976), “Wayo” The’69, Los Angeles Sessions (1993)

So i just finished talking to a recruiter who is so excited about all the Naijas he has placed over the past few months. Dude was trying to tell me how smart we are… Watch out peoples… we are taking over!

Who or what is a Naijapolitan? I jacked the word from Afropolitan: The Africa movement that’s spreading like wild fire.

This na real “Hello World”. Finally, Naijaman is on the loose. Watch out!